NBA: Shooter's delight as Clippers face Warriors in play-in

In a pivotal Western Conference play-in game, the Los Angeles Clippers will host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday in Inglewood, California. The No. 9 seed Clippers (42-40) and No. 10 seed Warriors (37-45) are set to square off in a high-stakes contest, with the winner moving one step closer to securing a playoff berth.

Los Angeles enters the game after a disappointing end to the regular season, having dropped two critical matchups, including a 116-97 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers last Friday. This defeat locked them into the 9/10 play-in bracket, and now they need two victories to advance to the postseason.

For the Warriors, finishing as the West's No. 10 seed means they've had a tumultuous season. However, the team is prepared for the challenge ahead, with star forward Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers leading the charge. Leonard, a six-time All-NBA selection, has been a dominant force all season, averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game and 2.6 three-pointers per contest.

"He's always been a great player," said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, recalling Leonard’s Finals MVP performance with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. "I don’t know how much he’s changed since we saw him in the Finals seven years ago."

Leonard, who has battled knee issues throughout his tenure with the Clippers, played in 65 regular-season games—the second-most of his career with the team. His presence was crucial in Los Angeles’ turnaround after a 6-21 start, as they finished the season with a 36-19 record since December 20. This included a season-ending 115-110 victory over Golden State on Sunday.

In Leonard's absence during that game, Bennedict Mathurin emerged as a key contributor, scoring 20 points, pulling down nine rebounds, and adding eight assists. The performance was a welcome bounce-back for Mathurin, who had been struggling with scoring.

“Just being in attack mode... When we get stops, we need him to go a little bit faster because he’s one of the best guys in transition,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue commented on Mathurin’s role going into the play-in game.

Transition play and tempo will be vital to the game’s outcome, as Golden State thrives on fast-paced basketball. Lue emphasized that failing to match the Warriors’ speed could lead to embarrassing results, and the Warriors’ ability to outpace teams is something they’ve demonstrated all season.

Despite an injury-riddled year, Golden State has been prolific offensively, averaging 114.6 points per game. However, their defense has been a concern, giving up 115.2 points per game and committing 15.7 turnovers. They’ve also been dealing with the absence of two-time MVP Stephen Curry, who missed 39 games this season due to a knee injury. However, Curry has returned to the lineup and has been ramping up his minutes in preparation for the play-in tournament.

“Stephen has had four games now where he’s stretched almost up to 30 minutes,” Kerr said. “With the two days off, he should be able to get at least that on Wednesday.”

Curry, despite his limited games, led the Warriors with 190 three-pointers this season. Additionally, Brandin Podziemski added 153 threes while playing all 82 games for Golden State. Moses Moody’s season-ending knee injury in March increased the roles of De’Anthony Melton and Kristaps Porzingis, who were recently inserted into the starting lineup.

With both teams gearing up for a high-energy contest, the Clippers and Warriors will battle for survival in the Western Conference play-in. The victor will move on with their playoff hopes alive, while the loser will see their season come to an end.

- Field Level Media/Reuters